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Mustafa
Joined: Nov 27, 2006
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Palestinian Refugees (May 1948 - May 2006)
December 18, 2006 - 08:45 AM
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By: Mustafa Sheta
Year 1948: The world stood by and watched this tragedy take place. Palestinians were left with only the bags they could carry, the memories of their homeland, and the knowledge that strangers live their homes and use their land. Israeli settlements were built over many Arab villages, changing the names as a way to wipe away the memory and history of the land. The aftermath of Al-Nakba saw the formation of hundreds of refugee camps in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan and Lebanon and many more refugees in the Diaspora.
Year: 2006. Just a few kilometers away from the villages of origin, the decedents of first generation of Palestinian refugees – now into the fourth generation, live, holding in mind and soul the return to their homelands fulfilling their right to return.
Fifty- eight years have passed since Al-Nakba, the major catastrophe in Palestinian modern history. Yet Palestinians still face one tragedy after another. The young child, Samah Odwan, stands in a huge demonstration in the middle of Ramallah, holding a piece of cardboard written on it the cities and villages of Al- Nasera (Nazareth district). She says: “I am here to protest against the occupation of Palestine. I have no wishes but to go back to the place which my grandfather tells me of. My father says we will return if we unite. As for myself I say: I love Falasteen (Palestine) and I hate the occupation.”
Just on the corner of Rukkab Street, a young man, Na'el Al-Omari, who lives in Qadora refugee camp says while watching the demonstrations in Ramallah: “This day is just like any other day. We constantly have to adapt catastrophes and hardship; nevertheless we have managed to keep our memory alive. I intentionally named my daughter Bissan, so as to maintain a constant link with the land [in Bisan] where I wish to return and where I shall return God willing.”
Year after year, the prospect of return to Palestine grows within, as Palestinians hold on to their rights. It is the day of Al-Nakba, when Palestinians whether inside or outside Palestine, whether exiled near or afar remember how the Zionists established their state on Palestinian suffering and on land not theirs. Palestine remains in Palestinian collective memory passed on through the generations until return.
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a
Joined: Sep 9, 2006
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Re: Palestinian Refugees (May 1948 - May 2006)
December 18, 2006 - 03:17 PM
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An extremely moving story..very sad...Stories like this make you stop and think how fortunate some of us really are..
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Salina Abaza
Joined: Nov 13, 2006
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Country: Syria
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Re: Palestinian Refugees (May 1948 - May 2006)
December 27, 2006 - 06:19 PM
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And now they are even evacuating from Iraq to Syria and Jordan.. Reminds me of the Circassian history, when Circassians had to move from Caucase in the beginings of this century, and those who settled in Golan and Palestine also had to evacuate again..
"If we unite, we get back".. I don't doubt the concept, only I doubt our unity
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